Apparatus for forming expansion joints



Jan. 13, 1925.

E. A. DEWALD APPARATUS-FQR FORMING EXPANSION JOINTS Filed Jan. 26, 1922' 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jam-13, 1925. 1,522,872

E. A. DEWALD APPARATUS FOR FORMING EXPANSION JOln'TS Filed Jan. 26, 2 3 SheecS -Sheet :5

awwemtoz EDWARD A.

DEWALD, OF MASSILLON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GBISCOlVI-RUSSELL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING EXPANSION JOINTS.

Application filed January 26, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. DEWALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Massillon, in the county of Stark, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Forming Expansion Joints; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to apparatus for forming expansion joints of that type consisting of a substantially cylindrical body part and having a circumferential ridge or groove at a portion of its length, and is in tended particularly for shaping an initial sheet of material into a cylindrical form in accordance with the improved method disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 531,886.

It has been proposed to form expansion joints of this type by rolling up a sheet of metal into cylindrical form and subsequently pressing into the cylinder thus formed a circumferential groove or ridge at about the center of its length. Expansion joints made in this fashion are, however, open to the objection that it is inconvenient to Work within a joint of small diameter, and joints made in apparently identical fashion often show considerable variation. Furthermore, the depth of the groove which may be rolled into the cylinder in this fashion is limited by the conformation of the material of the cylinder and the difficulty of distorting the material and the resulting expansion which may be accommodated by a single joint is correspondingly restricted.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for shaping material of any thickness into a cylinder having uniform curvature throughout, the apparatus being capable of producing successive cylinders identical in all respects.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus by means of which joints of various diameters may be produced by a simple adjustment of the apparatus, no special parts being required.

It is a still further object to provide an apparatus of the above type which is poweroperated and in which extensive adjustments Serial No. 531,837.

may be made by means of power-operated mechanism, means being provided for manually efiecting minute adjustments.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a corrugated sheet of material previous to being formed into a cylinder;

Figs. 2 and 3 are a sectional and plan View, respectively, illustrating the cylinder formed by my improved apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view;

Fig. 6 is an end view looking from the right of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view taken on line 7*? of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the operating rolls arranged for forming a joint of relatively small diameter; and

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the rolls in position to form a joint of relatively large diameter.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a sheet A of metal having a corrugation B pressed into it by means of a die. This sheet of metal is formed into a substantially cylindrical form as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the corrugation preferably being positioned centrally of the sheet A so that it will constitute a circumferential ridge at about the center of the length of the finished joint. The endstof the sheet are welded together to form an integral joint having an un obstructed fluid passage extending through it from end to end and containing no abutting faces or edges through which leakage might occur. In operation the joint is placed between the ends of the members which are to be joined, the connection being preferably accomplished by bending over the ends of the joint onto cast flanges provided with bolt holes for attachment to the members. As the ends of the members move together or draw apart under the influence of temperature changes, the corrugation B of the joint will accommodate such movement by permitting the joint to contract or elongate correspondingly.

The apparatus of the present application is designed particularly to carry out the process of forming the corrugated sheet A into acylindrical form. Referringto the drawings, 1 indicates the bed plate or base which serves as a mounting for the operatinginecl'ranism ofthe apparatus, and 2 indicates the supporting base for-the drivingmechanism. The base members 1 and 2 may be cast integrally or each may be formed" as a separate unit and provided with coop,- erating surfaces for the purpose of fitting thenrtogether. Apairof vertical brackets or. pedestals 3 is provided at each end of a The actual operation of rol lingtl'ie corrugated sheet A into a cylindrical form is performed byimeans of cooperating rolls 9, and-11 mounted for adjustment-to accommodate sheets of various thickness and to produce cylinders of various diameters. The roll 9 is mounted directly in the supportingmember 7 upwardly extendingportions -12 being. provided integrally with the member. 7 for the purpose of affording a bearing for the roller shaft. The roll 11 may also be carried directly by the member 7, butis preferablymounted for rotation in a separate block 13, which block is secured to the'flatupper-surface of the member 7 by meansof tap bolts 14 extending completely through the-member13 and threading into taps 15 in the upper faceof'the member 7. There is preferably provided a plurality of these taps 15, thus permitting step by step lateral adjustment of the roll: 11 by success vely-securing the bolts 14 in different of the taps. This permits lateral adjustment of theroll 11 without changing the position of the-other two rolls.

For the purpose of adjusting the two lowerrolls 9-and 11 with respect to roll 10 but leaving the relative position of therolls 9 and: 11 unchanged, there is provided at each sideof the apparatus a pair-of adjusting screws 16 threaded through the upper ends of the pedestals 3'and abutting against the lateral faces of the supporting memher 7. Topermit lateralmovement of the member the retaining bolts. 8 .are fitted through transverse slots 17 in the supporting member 6. the slots being of suflicient length to permit member 7 the maximum amount of lateral-movement which may be required. A sprocket wheel 18 is providedat the outer nd of each ofthe adjusting screws 16; and the pair of screws at each side of the apparatus are connected by a chain 19 working over the sprocket wheels 18 and serving to impart rotation to one of the screws whenever the other is rotated. In this manner binding of the member 7 against its retaining bolts is prevented since an equaipressure is exerted-upon it at each end during lower ends of which are threaded for support in the worm wheel 27 which in turn is supportedby the bed plate 1. A thrust collar 21- is provided at the upper end of ends of a pair of threaded posts the each of the posts 20, thus affording a satis factory connection between the posts and the supporting plate 6 which prevents tilting of the supporting plate 6 on the posts 20. lhitation ofthe worm wheel 27 will (ause post 20 to bemoved vertically up or down; through a hole provided in the bed plate 1 being provided in each of the upstandingarms 22 of the member 6 through which the adjusting screws 16 extend to prevent these screws interfering with the vertical adjustment. For the purpose of preventing bind- 5 during the operation of adjustment the posts 20 are arranged to be operated simultaneously. A shaft 23 is mounted a short distance above the bed plate and extends .ing. of the supporting member 6 on its track longitudinallythroughout the entire lengthof th e'machine having its bearing in a pair of brackets 24 extending upwardly from the bed plate 1 and in the upright pedestals 25 which are mounted upon the portion 2 0f thebed plate. At the portion of the'shaft 23 adjacent the posts 20, worms 26 are provided to cooperate with worm wheels 27 whichengage with the worms and also with the threaded posts 20. Rotation of the shaft 23 thus imparts rotation to the worm wheels 27 which in turn transmit vertical motion to the adj usting posts 20, a thrust bearing 28 being-provided for takingup the end thrust on the worm wheel. During the operation of vertical adjustment the shaft 23 is normally power driven, but for the purpose of effecting minute adjustments a hand wheel 29 is mounted in a bearing 30 carried by one of the supporting pedestals 3 and is connectof the hand 'wheel produces rotation of the shaft from which motion is imparted to the adjusting posts 20 by means of the worm and worm wheel, and a vertical adjustment of the rolls 9 and 11 is accomplished.

The upper roll 10 is carried by a shaft 33 whose inner end is mounted for rotation in the frame of the apparatus and whose outer end has a bearing in the upper end of an arm ea. This arm is pivoted at 35* to the bed plate 1 and may be swung down horizontally to permit removal of a completed cylinder from the upper roll 10, the bearing at the upper end of the arm being tapered to correspond with the tapered end of shaft 33, which construction necessarily permits arm at to swing clear of shaft 33 without requiring a split bearing. The arm 31 when in its operative position fits into a pocket 36 formed in the stiffening member 37 which extends between the upper ends of the pedestals 3, and a locking member 35 is provided to bridge over this gap and secure the pivoted arm in operative position, the locking member being held in place by means of bolts 38.

Power for driving the apparatus is supplied by an appropriate engine or motor through belts 39 and 40 operating over pulleys 41 and 4.2, respectively, the belt 39 serving to drive the mechanism in a forward direction and the belt 40 being crossed as shown to produce reverse rotation. The pulleys are rotatably supported upon a shaft as which is itself rotatably mounted in he upper ends of the pedestals 25 carried by the bed plate 2. Intermediate pulleys ll and a2 is a sliding clutch a4 actuated by the clutch shifting lever er, which may be moved to effect rotation of the shaft a3 in either the forward or reverse direction.

A pinion 4:5 is mounted at one end of shaft 43 and meshes with a gear 46 mounted on the outer end of a shaft 47, also having a bearing in the pedestals 25. At the outer end of shaft a? there is mounted a second pinion as meshing with a large gear 49 which, by means of the shaft 50 and pinion 51, transmits motion to the driving gear 52 mounted directly on the shaft 33 of the driving roll 10. Power from the source may thus be transmitted through the gear reduction train to operate the roll 10 in either the forward or reverse direction, depending upon the position of the clutch shifting member let. The shaft of the roll 9, best shown in Fig. 7, is also provided with a gear 53 which, through idlers 5a and 54!, re ceives its motion from a second gear 55 mounted on the shaft 33 of the roll 10. The gears 53 and 55 are of the same size for effecting rotation of the rolls 9 and 10 at equal. velocities and in reverse directions. For the purpose of providing for lateral and vertical adjustment of the roll 9 the idler it is mounted in a hanger 5T pivoted to the axis of the idler 54 and provided with a handle 58 to facilitate its adjustment. By this means the idler 5% may be swung around to mesh with gear 53 of the roll 9 in any position of adjustment and at the same time remain in mesh with idler 54. The hanger is secured in position by means of bolts 59 set in the frame of the apparatus and working in a slot (30 for permitting the hanger a sufficient amount of rotative movement.

The main shaft 4.? of the power transmitting mechanism also carries a centrally positioned pulley (51 connected by means of a belt 62 to a second pulley 63 rotatably mounted on the adjusting shaft A sliding clutch (34; is provided in cooperation with the pulley 63 to effe;t rotation of the adjusting shaft as desired, the direction of rotation of the shaft being determined by the position of the clutch shifting lever 44.

The operating rolls 9 and 10 and 11 are substantially cylindrical in shape, each being provided with a corrugation similar to that contained in the sheet which is being rolled. Upper roll 10 is adapted to bear on the inner surface of the material and consequently has a raised corrugation 65, while the lower rolls 11 and 12 are provided with grooves adapted to receive within them the raised corrugation on the metal sheet A.

In the operation of the machine the rolls 9 and 10 are brought together in substantially tangential relation, sufficient space being left between them to admit the metal sheet. These rolls are brought into proper position by means of the vertical adjustment, the clutch (it on the shaft 23 being moved into operative position for causing the vertical adjust-ing post-s 20 to be raised or lowered and consequently move the rolls 9 and 11 in a vertical direction. hen an apyn'oximate. adjustment has been obtained the clutch 64 is disconnected and exact adjustment obtained by the manually operated hand wheel 29. Upon rotation of the rolls 9 and 10 the corrugated sheet of metal is passed between them and comes in. contact with the surface of the roll 11, best shown in Figs. 8 and 9. If this point of contact lay in a line tangent to the cooperating rolls 9 and 10 at their point of contact with the metal no curvature would be imparted to the sheet. The apparatus is so designed, therefore, as to raise the roll 1] sufiiciently so that its point of contact with the metal lies above a tangent line drawn to the rolls 9 and 10 at their cooperating faces and thus imparts a curvature to the metal sheet. the curvature being constant for any given position of the rolls.

It is evident that the diameter of the rolled cylinder will be less the greater the distance that the point of contact between the roll 11 and the metal is from a line drawn tangent to the rolls 9 and 10 at their cooperating faces. Consequently for cylinlUO ders of -'large diameter the rolls 9 and 10 will be positioned so that the horizontal distance between their centers,- ind-icated' at 66, is small, since this is the position Which more nearly blings the tangent line drawn to ing screws 16, and subsequently bringing them into proper vertical relation by the ,hand' Wheel 29. Further variation in the diameter of the cylinder may be obtained holes- 15, upon the supportingmember-7.

VVh-i'l'e I'have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention it is ofoperatingrolls and adj Listing and driving means therefor-by reason of Which a cylinder of any size and thickness may be formed;

I claim 1. In an apparatus for forming expan-- sion joints, means for forming the material of the joint into a substantially cylindrical shape, comprising a rolladapted to bear upon one side of the material, an adjustable support cooperating rolls carried by said adjustable support forbearing upon the opposite side of the material and impartinga curvature thereto, said rolls being shaped to present a cooperating circumferential ridge and groove to receive a corrugation formed in the material as presentedto the rolls whereby the-shaping rolls contact With the said corrugated material throughout its extentand thereby bend all portions thereof to the proper curvature, driving means for said rolls, and means operated by saiddriving means for adjusting said support in a vertical direction.

2. In an apparatus for forming expansion joints, means for forming the material of the joint into a substantially cylindrical shape comprising a roll adapted to bear upon one side of the material, an adjustable support cooperatingrolls carried by said adjustable support for bearing upon the opposite side of the material and imparting acurva'ture thereto, driving means for said rolls, means operated by said driving means for imparting an extensive vertical moveby shifting the block 13, which carries the roll 11 laterally by means of tl'ie tapped to be understood that the details of con-' ment to: said: support,= and manually I operatednieans for adjnsting said support in a vertical: direction;

3. In \an'apparatus for forming expansion oints, means i for i forming the: material ot' 'the-joint into a substantially cylindrical shape: comprising a roll adapted to bear upon the inner surface of the-material, an adjustable support-c-ooperating rolls carried by=saizd support and bearing upon the oppo-- site side of the material iforimparting a w'clll'YiltlllG thereto, meansfor moving said rolls ill-iii, vertical directicni, and: independ'ent-v means for relatively adjusting. said 7 rollsin .atransverse direction comprising asecond support carried by said above men- -tioned adjustable support and laterally adjustable on said first mentioned supports 4. In anapparatus for forming expansionjoints,-mean's for forming-the material st; of the joint into a substantiallycylindrical shape comprising aroll adapted to bear on the inner-surface of the material, asecond roll arranged in substantially tangential relation to the first -for acting against the-= outer siirfaceof the n'iaterial, driving means for said rolls-comprising a:povver driven shaft and connections between-said shaft and rolls, a third roll adapted to independently act against/ theouter surface of the-material and impart a curvature thereto, a verticallyadjust-ablesupport carrying said second and third rolls, whereby said two rolls areadjustable 'verti'cally'as a unit, a second support carrying said third roll mounted on said vertically adjustable 1 support and slidable laterally thereon for effecting relativelateral adjustment of said two rolls aiidmeans for securing said laterally movable-support:to sa-id vertically adjustable-support in various positions of adjustment.

5. In anapparatus for forming expansionjoints,--means-for-formingthe material of the joint-into a substantially cylindrical 11O shape comprising a roll adapted to bear uponthe inner surface of the material. and having formed thereon a circumferential ridge to enter a corrugation in'the material as presente'dto-th-e apparatus,-a second roll*"'115 arranged -in substantially tangential relation to the first for actingagainst-the outer surface of the material and having formed in it a circumferential groove to receive the corrugation in said material, a third'lZO roll adapted to: independently act against the outer surface of the inaterial and impart a curvature thereto, means for relatively adjusting said rolls to vary the degree-of curvature, comprising a. vertically adjustable-support carryingsaid second and third rollsivl-iereby SEIid-tWO'l'OllS are adjustable vertically as a-iinit, a second support carrying said third roll mounted on said vertically-1adjustable-support and slid- 0 able laterally thereon for elfecting relative lateral adjustment of said two rolls and means for securing said laterally movable support to said vertically adjustable support in various positions of adjustment, a

power driven shaft, connections between said shaft and said tangentially arranged EDXVARD A. DEVVALD. 

